Secret ballot.



UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GABRIEL P. B. HOYT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SECRET BALLOT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 642,695, dated February 6, 1900.

Application filed August 28,1899. Serial No. 728,669. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GABRIEL P. B. HOYT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, (J amaica,) in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Secret Ballot, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a secret ba1lot,and has for its principal object the formation of a ballot which may be sealed securely by the voter after he has marked it and which will ballot when folded and sealed.

clearly identify the voter before he ballots, but from which he cannot be identified after he has balloted, whereby absolute secrecy is eflected.

WVith this end in view the invention consists in the formation and construction of a ballot, substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents the gummed folder constituting the secret ballot. Fig. 2 represents the face of the Fig. 3 represents the reverse side thereof.

The ballot consists of a folder or blank having a general outline substantially as shown in Fig. 1. On one side of this folderto wit, that which becomes the inside when folded there may be placed the blank ballot with the names of the candidates, as represented at 4, under the head of Regular ticket, and, if desired, there may also be a blank in which may be written the names of any other candidates, such as indicated at 5. The remaining interior space of the ballot may be occupied by any suitable printed matter-such,for instance, as a notice of election, as indicated at 6 at the top of the folder. There may also be instructions for voting printed upon this face of the folder.

The gum for sealing the ballot is preferably placed across each end of one portion of the folder and around the edges of the flap, as indicated at 7.

Suitable instructions for sealing may also be printed, as indicated at 8.

From one portion of the ballot or blank there is an extended portion, as indicated at 9, on which may be written the name of the voter. This portion, as will be noted, protrudes beyond the blank when folded and sealed, as indicated in Figs. 2 and The outside of the blank or folderis adapted for an address in case the ballot is to be sent by mail.

Upon the back of the folded blank, preferably upon the fiap, as indicated at 10, may be printed directions for writing the name upon the protruding portion or stub 9 and for removing the same before the ballot is opened and also for stamping the ballot in case it is to be sent by mail.

In use the ballot is treated as follows: The party or organization in whose behalf the ballot is to be used sends out the ballots in blank form, as indicated in Fig. 1. The voter then indicates his choice by properly markingthe regular ticket or by writing in the names of the candidates of his selection and then folds and seals the ballot in the form indicated in Fig. 2. He then writes his name upon the stub and addresses and stamps the ballot, if it is to be mailed, or hands it to the teller, if he is to vote in person. The teller removes the stub bearing the members name and deposits the ballot in the ballot-box. From this it will be seen that before voting the ballot by means of the stub identifies the voter; but after the ballot has been deposited the identity thereof becomes lost.

To facilitate the opening of the ballot, it may be perforated across its ends, as indicated in Fig. 2, the lines of perforations being made just Within the gum med portions. To facilitate the removal of the stub, it may be heavily ruled at its junction with the main portion of the blank or perforated, as desired. I

The invention claimed is- As an article of manufacture, a secret ballot consisting of a folder bearing on its inside the substance of the ballot and having aprojecting stub for the voters name, said folder being gummed at each end and havinga flap gummed about its edge whereby the folded ballot may be sealed across its ends and at its free edge.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 17th day of August, A. D.-1899.

GABRIEL P. B. I-IOYT.

Witnesses:

E. W. RYDER, J. V. CARMICHAEL. 

